RAZORBACKS RALLY BEHIND ROCKET SANDERS IN SEASON-SAVING WIN…READ…MORE…

RAZORBACKS RALLY BEHIND ROCKET SANDERS IN SEASON-SAVING WIN…READ…MORE…

When the Arkansas Razorbacks needed a spark to salvage their season, Raheim “Rocket” Sanders delivered one of the most electrifying performances of his college career. The senior running back carried the team—literally and emotionally—in a must-win 31–27 thriller over Mississippi State on Saturday at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

With bowl eligibility on the line and the pressure mounting after a rocky season, the Razorbacks rallied behind their star. Sanders rushed for 178 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, sealing a crucial victory that pushed Arkansas to 6–5 on the season and kept postseason hopes alive.

“Rocket was phenomenal,” said head coach Sam Pittman in the postgame press conference. “He put this team on his back and said, ‘We’re not going home yet.’ That’s the kind of leadership and heart you dream of as a coach.”

The Razorbacks fell behind 17–7 early in the second quarter after Mississippi State capitalized on a turnover and a blown coverage in the secondary. But Sanders’ physical running and explosive speed helped shift the momentum. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Sanders broke off a 56-yard run that fired up the Fayetteville crowd and set up his first touchdown of the day.

From there, Arkansas clawed its way back. Quarterback KJ Jefferson, playing through a minor shoulder injury, managed the game effectively and contributed 212 yards passing and a key third-quarter touchdown to wide receiver Isaiah Sategna. But it was clear the offense flowed through Sanders.

“He’s our heartbeat,” Jefferson said. “When Rocket’s rolling, the whole team plays with more confidence. He’s been through adversity and never flinches. That’s a guy you want in your locker room.”

The defense, led by linebacker Chris Paul Jr. and defensive back Jayden Johnson, tightened up in the second half, limiting Mississippi State to just 10 points after halftime. A fourth-quarter interception by Johnson stopped a Bulldogs drive deep in Razorback territory and gave Sanders the chance to finish the job.

And finish it he did.

With just over four minutes left, Arkansas mounted a seven-play, 68-yard drive highlighted by Sanders’ punishing runs and capped off by a 12-yard burst up the middle into the end zone. The crowd erupted as Sanders pointed to the sky and embraced his offensive line.

“I owe it all to those guys up front,” Sanders said after the game. “They opened the holes, and I just did my job. We weren’t going to let our season end like this.”

The win puts Arkansas in position for a bowl invitation and provides a much-needed morale boost after a season filled with ups and downs. For Sanders, who returned this year to lead the Hogs one more time, it was a defining performance in a defining moment.

“This one meant a lot,” Sanders said. “We fought like Razorbacks today. And we’re not done yet.”